Today's Hemmings FOTD shows a '66 Sport Fury 440 convertible that the owner says is one of two produced in '66. From my meager poking around the net, all I've come up with regarding production numbers on '66 Sport Furys is that specific numbers don't exist, and that they're lumped in with other models. The ad says Galen's tag service has documented the rarity of the car. Does Mr. G possess information that us mere mortals can't get in this age of the internet (unless we buy his books)?
Oh, and the asking price of the car? Let's just say it is in the stratosphere.
I'm calling this and the ad in Hemmings major, major bigtime bullshit.
Let's start with the ad.
First off, the car is either a Sport Fury or it's a Fury III. There's no such animal as a Sport Fury 3
Next. No full size Plymouth, with the possible exception of the VIPs got a leather interior. Someone can't tell the difference between vinyl and leather? Please.
Calling it one of a kind because of those idiotic snorkels on the hood and a set of Cragar S/S mags doesn't cut it in my book. Where's the OE wheels & wheelcovers? How much work is it going to be to "FIX" the hood?
This car "might" be one of two in GALEN's REGISTRY. That and $1.25 gets you a cup of coffee. Somebody's going to have to give me one hell of a great explanation as to what being on Galen's Registry has to do with anything. It means someone has brought this car to his attention (probably after paying the fees). It certainly doesn't mean its a one of two.
Bragging about all of the stuff on the car that DOESN'T work isn't my idea of creating desire on the part of potential purchasers. What did he have to do to "put it into good running condition"? What OE parts did he toss doing this? Who did the work?
We're all still waiting with baited breath to see what sort of "documentation" Galen is sending this guy. I'll bet it'll be thrilling reading.
Meanwhile a few facts.
There were 33230 Sport Furys built in 1966 with 30249 being hardtops and 2981 being convertibles.
The only option breakdown information I have covers all Sport Furys, so use your own discretion with the following.
Of the 33230 cars built in the US, Chrysler reports 32941 of them sold. The other 300 or so cars could be export. I didn't bother to check.
Of these 32941 cars that were sold 889 of them got 440s. So while somebody's explaining to me what the significance is of being in Galen's Registry, they can also explain to me who 887 of those 440s went into hardtops and only 2 went into convertibles, when convertibles were 8.97 (nearly 9)% of the cars sold.
Hell even Canada made 437 convertibles out of 2711 Sport Furys, which is 16.12% of their production.
So, one more time.
BULLSHIT!
